Canadian x-ray manufacturer KA Imaging and portable x-ray developer MinXray will assist with medical x-ray in space research via a project called SpaceXray.
The company’s Reveal 35C x-ray detector has been selected for the Fram2 mission, a polar-orbit human spaceflight mission that is a collaboration between academic institutions, private companies, and technology developers. Reveal 35C features KA Imaging’s SpectralDR technology, which produces three images via dual-energy subtraction: soft tissue, bones, and a traditional digital x-ray.
MinXray will contribute its Impact system, which consists of a portable x-ray generator powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, eliminating the need for external power sources, according to KA Imaging.
The SpaceX project aims to validate a protocol for the safe and efficient acquisition of diagnostic x-ray in the microgravity and radiation environment of orbital flight; researchers will assess image quality, contrast, and spatial resolution with a focus on bone mineral density measurements to monitor the effects of microgravity on astronauts’ bones, the company said.
The initiative’s academic partners include the University of California, San Diego; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston; and Saint Louis University in Missouri.